Cyclist Richard Holt told 40/29 News he was riding his bike along Highway 265 Wednesday, when a dog rammed into him and bit him on his leg. Holt told 40/29 News he called 911 and went to the hospital.

"I hit him in the face a few times and then I managed to get my hands on his jaws and pull it off long enough for me to get away from him. And then he went back to his house across the street," said Holt.

Ashtyon Slavens, the dog's owner, told 40/29 that her dog Bebe is a 2-year-old mutt, and wouldn't hurt anyone unless provoked. The owner told 40/29 the dog is frequently around toddlers and hasn't hurt them.

"Anyone who has been to my house, even strangers that have met him once or twice, will tell you he is the best dog," said Slavens.

Cyclist Richard Holt told 40/29 News on Friday that he cannot walk or ride his bike. Holt told 40/29 News he has hired an attorney.

The Washington County Animal Control Officer issued a warning to the dog's owner on Wednesday, according to the county's Facebook post. The animal control officer "determined, based on evidence and listed remedies, to issue a warning for Violation of the Vicious Animal Ordinance." The page says the officer also required the dog owner to secure the dog and make sure it did not have rabies.

Richard Holt posted a complaint on his personal Facebook page Thursday, saying the sheriff's office was "unhelpful," and that "the animal control officer on duty decided to not impound the dog despite our pleas." Holt included close-up picture of his wounds in the Facebook post.

The sheriff's office wrote on its post that it received phone calls and socialThe dog was also ordered quarantined inside the home, according to both the sheriff's office post and the owner."My dog will be on a chain or behind a fence," Slavens told 40/29 News. "He'll never be allowed to run through the field and do what he always does. He'll never be able to go play fetch at a park."

"I am very sorry for what happened and I want to help in any way that I can, but my dog will not be put down. I'll make that clear to anyone who says they're going to hunt my dog, kill my dog. I'll fight the whole world for my dog," said Slavens.